FEM Simulation to Characterize Wireless Electric
Power Transfer Elements
Gabriel Vzquez Ramos
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Launch Services Program (Mail Code: VA-H3)
John F. Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899
Gabriel.VazquezRamos-1@nasa.gov
Abstract Wireless power transfer systems are expected to be a
new mean for power distribution in the non-distant future for
household electronics and handheld devices. However, even with
the progress achieved to date, it is difficult to find literature that
address the Federal Communications Commission, the Comit
Europen or Military Standards compliance for electromagnetic
emissions. This paper provides further insight for
electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) compliance and coupling
characterization considerations by performing Finite Element
Method simulations. It was demonstrated by model simulation
that Finite Element Method (FEM) provides adequate design
insight for possible EMC compliance concerns before proceeding
to the prototype phase. In addition, it was also demonstrated
that FEM simulation provides adequate coupling
characterization to determine the range of the wireless power
transfer element as well as its optimal frequency of operation
based on the separation distance between the transmitter element
and the receiver element.
Keywords: magnetic coupling, magnetic resonance, power
transfer, wireless power, radiated emissions, electromagnetic
compatibility, finite element method
I. INTRODUCTION
Lately, there has been a growing research interest on
designing new and innovative ways to transmit electrical power
using means other than conductors or cables. Emerging power
distribution areas that have captured significant attention are
the wireless power transfer systems. The firsts related studies in
this field were generated by Nicola Tesla by the end of the XIX
century and the begging of the XX century, resulting in
numerous US patents [1][2][3][4]. In 2007, a research team
from MIT [5] resurfaces some of Teslas work concepts with
additional practical contributions. Since MITs work, there has
been growing interest in the community for various
applications for this technology.
Possible applications of this wireless power transfer (WPT)
technology range from space, mining, electric cars charging,
handheld electronics and many more. One of the main
challenges identified for the application of this technology is
electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) consideration. Within
the electromagnetic compatibility considerations, radiated
emissions (RE) can be identified as one of the areas of highest
concerns, due to the magnetic principle in which the WPT
systems operate.
978-1-4799-0053-4/13/$31.00 2013 IEEE
Jiann-Shiun Yuan
University of Central Florida,
Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer
Orlando, FL 32816
yuanj@mail.ucf.edu
This paper will focus on radiated emissions EMC
considerations of wireless power transfer elements. At the
same time, it will focus on the optimal separation distance
identification of the WPT elements by determine its S21
parameters and correspondent resonant frequencies.
II. ANALYSIS
As part of the proposed evaluation on Electromagnetic
Compatibility (EMC) environments for wireless power
transfer systems, a four stage magnetic coupling element
approach will be taken [6]. This element will be designed and
simulated using the FEM tool called Electromagnetic
Professional (by HP Agilent) and later evaluated explaining
how it can be used to evaluate compliance for EMC
requirements.
Stage 3:
Resonator # 2
Transmitter
Stage 4:
Loop 2
Stage 1:
Loop 1
Receiver
Stage 2:
Resonator # 1
Figure 1. Four Stage Magnetic Resonance Element
A. Wireless Power Transfer Magnetic Coupling Element
The magnetic coupling element to be evaluated was
selected for this study due to its properties of wireless power
transfer distance. Its configuration can achieve distances in
the order of meters [5][6][7]. An additional feature of this
design is that it is built with copper piping, this will help
reducing the total weight of the system. Figure 1 illustrates
the WPT magnetic element and its stages.
The first stage is constituted by a regular single loop
inductor. It is built with copper pipe to have greater wire
diameter to provide less series resistance. In addition, the is expected. For accurate and reliable impedance value, it is
conductor is hollow, making the overall inductor weight recommended to perform an impedance measurement with an
lighter. This is due to skin effect generated at high frequencies LCR meter for the frequency of operation.
of operation [8].
The frequency of operation of a resonant circuit can be
The second and third stages of the magnetic resonant determined with (2) [11].
element are considered to be helical resonators. These are
structures that resonate magnetically at a specific frequency 1
depending on their quality factor (Q) of the design. The f0 (2)
resonating structures to be designed are known as helical coils 2 LC
or helix. Based on literature review, it was identified that
helical coils built with copper piping provide Q values in the where C is the coupling capacitance required, f0 is the
order of hundreds, making it ideal for this type of application frequency of oscillation in Hertz, and L is the inductance of the
[5][6][8]. Higher Q means higher efficiency due to the fact coil in Henrys.
that Q is the number of oscillations before losses occur and Equation (2) can be modified to determine the capacitance
damp the resonant system [5][7][9]. In addition, these
for the resonating circuit.
resonators are considered to be hallowing inductors; therefore,
they are lightweight due to the fact that they do not require
using heavy magnetic cores or structures to achieve higher Q. 1
C (3)
Different from the first and the fourth stage, the resonators used 2f 0 2 L
on the second and third stage do not have any electrical
physical connection with the system. They are used for their
properties of amplification and propagation of the magnetic Since the power transfer element to be modeled is a
fields. resonant circuit, the concepts of quality factor (Q) and
bandwidth (BW) will be required and implemented for the
The fourth stage of the magnetic resonant element is a modeling of the element [8].
single inductor loop similar to the inductor loop used on the
first stage. These two loops (first and fourth stages) have been
used with a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter used for
the resonators in similar previous studies [5][7][9] . 2f 0 L
Q (4)
R
The four stages work in pairs to provide the WPT
transmitting and receiving characteristics desired. The first and
second stages work as the primary or the transmitter section f0
of the magnetic coupling element. The third and forth stages BW (5)
Q
work as the secondary or receiver section of the element.
Since the resonators on the second and third stage are not
electrically connected with the system, three gaps can be B. WPT Element Coupling Characterization
identified in Figure 1. The first gap and the third gap Based on the transmitter and the receiver separation, a
correspond to the transmitting and receiving section of the specific power transfer profile will be achieved. Depending
WPT element. They will be considered to be fixed due to their on the geometry and separation distance between stages, some
interaction between stages as previously described. The WPT characteristics of the overall performance of the WPT element
element separation distance will be defined as the distance can change or provide a less efficient outcome.
between the transmitter and the receiver as shown in Figure 1.
This will be the distance to be evaluated as the separation
distance for wireless power transmission.
Some of the key concepts required for the analysis and
evaluation of this system are self-inductance capacitance of the
magnetic resonators, the loop inductances, the Q factor
determination, coupling coefficient, and mutual inductance.
The self inductance of the inductor loop with no magnetic
core is defined as [10]:

8R
L N 2 R0 ln 1.75 (1)
r
Figure 2. Inductive coupling effects [7]
where N is the number of turns in the loop, R is the radius of
the loop, 0 is the permeability of vacuum, and r is the loop There are three main coupling effects as a result of
conductor diameter. This can provide an estimate of the loop variations in the system: over coupling, critically coupling and
inductance; however, manufacturing and modeling variability under coupling. Figure 2 illustrate the expected relation
between the various coupling effects, according to RF theory Element Characteristics and Values
Element
presented in [8]. Stage Characteristic Value Units
C. Electromagnetic Compatibility Cosiderations Separation distance
A wide range of EMC considerations could be applicable between Loop #1 and
5 cm
Helical Resonator #1
depending on the final application and user. From hand held (Transmitter)
devices, to industrial and space applications, there are various Separation distance
factors that needs be considered. Additional between Loop #1 and
Model 5 cm
Helical Resonator #1
From the EMC point of view, the four main testing and Characteristics (Receiver)
compliance areas of emphasis for electronic devices are: Separation distance 5 to 50 (in
radiated emissions (RE), radiated susceptibility (RS), between the transmitter increments cm
concoctive emissions (CE) and conductive susceptibility (CS). and the receiver of 5)
Frequency of Operation ~20 MHz
Due to the nature of this magnetic resonant WPT element,
the greatest concern for its implementation is considered to be
radiated emissions. According to military and civilian A. WPT Element Coupling Characterization Results
standards (i.e. US Air Force, NAVY, ARMY, NASA, Federal
Communications Commission and Comit Europen), two RE The WPT element model previously described was
tests will be applicable to each unit: magnetic fields and simulated for various separation distances (d): from 5 cm to 50
electric fields [12][13][14][15]. For that reason, one of the cm in increments of 5 cm. The FEM simulation results
main emphases of this paper is the electric and magnetic fields followed the coupling characterization criteria described in the
simulation of the proposed wireless magnetic resonant element Analysis section. It can be visible in Figure 3 that the coupling
to transmit power wirelessly. characterization correlates with the characterization described
in [8] (theoretical concept illustrated in Figure 2).

III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

Using the wireless power transfer (WPT) element 0
configuration illustrated in Figure 1, a 3 dimensional (3D) d = 5cm
-5
computer based model was generated. Finite Elements d = 25cm
Methods (FEM) simulations where performed to the WPT 3D
S21 Parameter (dB)

-10
d = 50cm
model using the software package Agilents Electromagnetic
Professional (EMPro). These results will be later compared -15
against the theory previously presented in the Analysis section. -20
Table 1 lists the parameter characteristics of the WPT element.
-25
TABLE I. WIRELESS POWER TRASNFER ELEMENT 3D EMPRO -30
MODEL PARAMETERS
-35
Element Element Characteristics and Values
-40
Stage Characteristic Value Units Frequency (MHz)
Radius 8 cm Figure 3. Coupling effects results at various separation distances using
Wire Diameter 0.635 cm finite element method simulation

Treats 1 turns
The model characteristics plotted above (Figure 3) where
Winding thikness (height) 0.635 cm
Loop #1 & #2 the S21 parameters to determine the WPT element gain. It can
Profilie Segments 6 - be visible that for a separation distance of 5 cm, the system
Path Segments 8 -
has two resonant frequencies. This means that the system was
under coupled for that separation distance. For a separation
Handedness right - distance of 25 cm, the system was closed (if not at) the
Radius 10 cm critically coupled scenario. This means that this is closed to
Wire Diameter 0.635 cm the optimal separation distance for wireless power transfer,
Treats 5 turns
which corresponds to the systems highest efficiency.
Helical Looking at the S21 parameters for a separation distance of 50
Resonator Winding thikness (height) 3.81 cm
#1 & #2
cm, one can say that the WPT element can provide wireless
Profilie Segments 6 - power transmission but with poor efficiency.
Path Segments 40 -
These simulation results can provide additional prototype
Handedness right -
design insight, such as design for a specific separation
distance. This means that for the model simulated, the
wireless power transfer system can operate for distances from
0 to 25 cm for optimal wireless power transfer by providing
closed loop control for the operating resonant frequency.
Also, as the various coupling scenarios change the optimal
frequency of operation, the FEM simulations can help by
providing a frequency track approach to identify and correlate
the frequency of operation based on the separation distance.
B. Electromagnetic Compatibility Cosiderations Results
Based on the model developed and FEM simulation, a
radiated emission preliminary assessment can be performed to
determine if the WPT element design will be compliant to the
applicable EMC requirement. For a frequency of operation of
~20 MHz, estimated electric fields are shown in Figure 4. This
figure shows with red the electric fields greater than 10 V/m. If
the applications standard requires fields less than 10 V/m, the
FEM simulation will show the areas were the system is not
compliant. Similar to the electric field, the magnetic field can
be estimated with FEM simulation. Figure 5 illustrates the
magnetic field generated by the WPT element. If the
applications standard requires fields less than 0.2512 Amps-
Turns/ meters (110 dBpT), Figure 5 illustrates the possible
WPT element areas of concerns for standard compliance.
Figure 4. WPT element electric field (red is for fields greater than 10 V/m)
Figure 5. WPT element magnetic field (red is for fields greater than 0.2512
Amps-Turns/ meters, or 110 dBpT)
IV. CONCLUSIONS
Finite Element Method (FEM) can be considered an
adequate tool to verify the electromagnetic compatibility
compliance of WPT elements design before proceeding to the
prototype phase. It identifies the areas of concern that can
represent a challenge for the electromagnetic compatibility
compliance of the WPT element.
Simulations also showed to follow the predicted coupling
behavior described in the Analysis section. Optimal distance
and frequency of operation can also be determined with FEM
simulation by evaluating the multiple coupling scenarios
reflected based on system characteristics changes (e.g.
separation distance).
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Special thanks to NASAs Launch Services Program
located at Kennedy Space Center, Florida. The authors greatly
appreciate your support.
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